Georgia Moore, Editor in Chief
The Saganaki at FARRA
Saganaki is the litmus test at any Greek restaurant, and at the just-opened FARRA at Hyde Perth, it really delivers. The kitchen team has clearly put in the groundwork, landing on a Jersey cheese from Gold Street Dairy that holds its shape under heat, blistering to a golden crust while staying molten at the centre. It arrived sizzling, crisp at the edges and elastic within, exactly as it should be.
House of Arras Sparkling
House of Arras in Tasmania has just made history, becoming the first sparkling producer outside Champagne to receive a perfect 100-point score from the Robert Parker Wine Advocate, awarded by critic Erin Larkin. The wine, E.J. Carr Late Disgorged 1998 Magnum, spent an extraordinary 24 years on lees, resulting in a depth and complexity that puts it firmly in the global conversation. It feels particularly exciting given we are currently working on a project in Tassie, a reminder of just how serious the region has become for both hospitality and producers.. If you needed an excuse to revisit Australian sparkling, this is it.
Vinotto, Swanbourne
I’m highly rating the food coming out of the Vinotto kitchen at the moment, with Albany-born, Kalgoorlie-raised chef Justin Scarvaci still leading the kitchen and delivering a seriously delicious lineup of dishes. It’s a special place for a date night and, as we move into the cooler months, it’s cosy too; I love looking back into the sloping house garden, it gives off strong Notting Hill vibes. Start with the anchovy toast with confit onion and the NSS sourdough with good butter, then settle into something more substantial like the lasagnette with braised silverbeet and pecorino. One dish I had there recently sits in my early top five for the year: heirloom tomatoes seasoned with Aleppo pepper and salt, dressed with lemon juice and a spice-infused oil layered with cumin, coriander, paprika and chilli, sitting on labneh, loosened with lemon juice and salt, and finished with salted onions and herbs from the garden.
The Perfect Footy Jacket
Footy’s back, and getting to Optus Stadium, especially when the Dockers are on a winning streak, is electric fun. Essential is a strategy so you don’t care if the loud and wobbly punter behind you spills their beer or your kid enthusiastically squirts sauce or vinegar at you (in fairness, those squeezy little packets do say shoot me). I researched long and hard to find this overcoat from Uniqlo, which is footy-food-proof to the core, and machine washable too. Over the past year I’ve been quietly assembling a list of my top ten stadium eats, which I am preparing to rapid fire soon. A sneak preview: the lamb curry is firmly in the top three. Not every stadium in the world understands that condiments are a food group, but this one does.
The Seagull Stools at Little Creatures Fremantle
I had a tour recently of the new Little Creatures in Fremantle and went a little gaga for the seagull fabric bar stools, along with the incredible lighting features throughout the venue. As Carrie Watson, their National Operations Manager Hospitality, shared, the chairs were custom made for comfort, with the fabric a subtle nod to the seagulls that inhabit the Fremantle harbour. The Loft is my favourite part of the space, perched right over the harbour with some of the best sunset views in Freo. The design is deeply connected to place, with salvaged timber, repurposed signage and subtle references to the working harbour, all while staying true to the brand’s roots. It feels chic, thoughtful, local and unmistakably Fremantle, just with a slightly more elevated edge.
COMO Shambhala, Ubud
I first fell in love with the COMO Shambhala brand while working on the opening of COMO The Treasury years ago, and their approach to wellness has stayed with me ever since. The Ubud estate, recently refurbished, is all jungle-set villas, infrared and dry saunas, ice baths, massages and off-piste treatments that read a little differently to the usual high-end spa menu. It is an easy escape for WA travellers seeking a reset, and less logistically complex than getting to Byron Bay’s retreat lineup (although I am dying to get to Gaia). Book Yoga with Budi and an acupuncture session which is something else entirely, morphing into a full wellness consultation. You’ll leave feeling inspired to live in the cleanest way possible.
Sophie Gargett, Reviewer, WAGFG
Mount Street Books and Mount Street Breakfast Bar
Any place you take for granted is worth reacquaintance. Playing tourist in my own city, I spent an autumn afternoon meandering from one end of the CBD to the other, landing on my best pick of the month: Mount Street Books. This narrow nook is a curator’s dream. A honed selection from the wondrous to the challenging, with perhaps Perth’s best collection of books on food, art and design. Almost better than the real thing is their page on the Gram. No bells and whistles or over-worked shots, just simple, sincere chats about books. And all the better that it sits next door to…
The Mount Street Breakfast Bar. I love a breakfast meeting, especially when it involves neither work nor other people. Smother my eggs with thick garlicky labneh and Aleppo chilli for a trifecta. With an international crowd drifting down from the hotel above that makes for great people-watching, this may be the city’s best start to the day. They also have a pretty mean Basque cheesecake for you to take with you for that “morning tea meeting” up next.
The Avocado Saver
If you’ve ever bought a kitchen gadget online, you’d be familiar with the assault that follows: every pointless gimmicky piece of cooking-related landfill is launched at you through the algorithm as though ‘Tim Shaw from Demtel’ is personally running your feed. But there’s some gold amongst all those things we don’t really need. The Avocado Saver is one of them. Bring an end to those sad half-avocados languishing in the fridge turning ever-more sewerage-y brown. With little more than a cradle and a strap, this unsung hero gives second life to Australia’s favourite fruit.
The Turkuaz Kitchen
Along with ten million others I am mesmerised by the moody tones and vintage crockery of Betul Tunc’s @turkuazkitchen. Rarely featuring herself other than her skilful hands and linen smocks, her page is a visual diary that conjures the nostalgia and romance of slow cooking. But beyond her talent and savvy, she emanates softness and warmth, sharing the tribulations of being an exhausted new mum while kneading a French Cramique loaf. It was her serene chic that prompted me to purchase her cookbook (lord knows, I don’t need another baking tome) but her sublime recipes have me cooking
Steak Diane
There’s a direct correlation between sunshine and food for me: with the salad days behind us (a middle-aged double entendre) and my Le Creuset cookware finding its way to the stovetop, there’s a shift in high rotation dishes in my kitchen. My favourite of the moment is a retro Steak Diane. The jury’s out on who Diane is but I love her for creating this deeply savoury and very easy sauce. Anchovies and brandy come and go from the recipe but Dijon, Worcestershire and cream are staples. My go-to is NY Times columnist Mark Bittman’s version but there’s another fabulous one on Gourmet Traveller that adds bitey green peppercorns. Thanks Di.
Max Brearley, Guide Editor, WA Good Food Guide
Maison Lassiaille
Although it’s not the first time I’ve sampled Romain Lassiaille’s wares, I did recently get to Maison Lassiaille for the first time (I know, what took me so long?) I have told people that I don’t have a sweet tooth, which is part lie, part self protection. Knowing that I can pick up a bag of madeleines, house made pastries and great coffee is going to see quite a few Harmans Mill Road diversions.
The New Dirty at Bar Vera
I spent April in Bali and while there were so many dishes that stood out there’s one drink that continually comes back to me. Enter, The New Dirty at Bar Vera in Pererenan. A wagyu fat wash gin joins vermouth, sherry, and smoked bamboo. Rounded and savoury in the mouth, it doesn’t have the harsh punch of some martinis. If you’re in the area it has to be on your list.
Rustico, at Hayshed Hill
During a recent stay at Rusticoq, a bed and breakfast property from the owners of Rustico at Hayshed Hill, I got to try their stay and play package which included their own pick up and drop off service, wine tasting at Hayshed Hill and a long lunch at Rustico. Seamless service is always a joy. Truffle season will see them offer a hunt and lunch experience with The Margaret River Truffle Farm. Instead of the Rústico degustation lunch with matching wines and transport, guests have the option to upgrade to the region’s only Hunt & Lunch experience.
The Weekend Australian Magazine
I’ve recently reinstated a Saturday ritual which is reading the weekend magazine. Coffee in hand my first port of call, even before the food pages or WA Good Food Guide regular Nick Ryan on wine, is Charlotte Ree’s weekly column. If you’re a lover of great writing, fresh voices and searing honesty, then this is perhaps the column for you. You may know Ree from her memoir Heartbake. If you don’t then add that one to your reading list as well.
Sue Yeap, Reviewer, WA Good Food Guide
Stirling Farmers Market, Sundays
A leisurely browse through Stirling Farmers Market is how I like to spend Sunday morning. The best produce sells out early, so often I’m doing a high- speed walk. My first stop is usually Tastee Taters to pick up a couple of kilos of South West spuds, in varieties such as Carisma and Prince of Orange. A big bottle of Pure and Healthy cold-pressed Turmeric Nourish juice is as close as I can get to having Balinese jamu in my fridge. I buy fruit and veg according to the seasons. My other semi-regular stops include All Grain Artisan for an elusive Table Loaf, Eurochef Fine Foods for Chilli and Garlic Chorizo and Red Gill Fish for fresh fish for dinner.
Meat and Mains Butcher
Meat and Mains at Hawaiian’s Mezz in Mount Hawthorn is not your average butcher. It’s open seven days a week and has daily sandwich specials as well as roast meat and veg. I cannot resist the tallowed spuds. Chef turned butcher Tom Randolph’s ready-to-go meals are a lifesaver on busy weeknights. The green curry, butter chicken and pulled beef brisket are in high rotation in my fridge, and you save $5 when you buy any three. Of course, he has excellent mince and cuts of meat, too. Tom’s smoked brisket is as good as any I’ve had in Perth.
Jujube Dining
Autumn presents some of Perth’s best sunsets and I’m enjoying those last days of being able to dine alfresco. I finally made it to Glenn McCue’s Jujube Dining at Doubleview Bowling Club, sharing tender braised beef curry with eggplant, potato and udon, lemongrass and turmeric chicken maryland with lentil dahl, cabbage and saltbush, and a couple of serves of the fat, sweet prawn and scallop toast. Big mains with Taiwanese influences for under $30, cheap drinks, WA sunsets, what more could you ask for on a Wednesday or Friday night?
Photo by Sally Hall – Perth is OK!
Japan Coffee Finds
I’m enjoying spring in Japan, exploring neighbourhoods and cities I haven’t visited before. In just a few days I’ve already managed to feast on egg sandos, cold soba, yakitori, and tonkatsu. In the back streets of Asakusa I’ve found two tiny retro cafes with great coffee and vibes. The Revival House has delivered the best oat flat white so far, while Ine Coffee Gallery encourages visitors to play puzzles or try their hand at origami while sipping. An absolute delight that has been in the area since 1966.